Buzz
Topic: The Beauty of Laborers Through Folk Songs and Bonds of Affection
I. Outline: The Beauty of Laborers Through Folk Songs and Bonds of Affection
1. Introduction
Introduction to folk poems, leading into the topic: the beauty of laborers through beloved folk verses of affection.
2. Body
* Poems 1, 2:
- Familiar motif: 'Her body...'.
- Sentimental character: A woman in feudal society, with a humble and fragile status.
- Comparative images, metaphors: silk threads, potato roots
=> Fate is dependent, lacking the autonomy to decide for one's own life.
* Poem 3:
- Introduction with 'climbing trees...' quite peculiar, arousing curiosity and allure
- Sentimental character: Could be male or female, two individuals in love but unable to be together
- Imagery: Persimmon tree => Bitterness, heartache of having fate but not fruition.
* Poem 4:
- Sentimental character: A young girl in love expressing her feelings both directly and indirectly
- Numerous rhetorical questions => Many questions swirling in the heart
- Use of personification, repetition of questions, anthropomorphizing inanimate objects: Lamp, handkerchief, eyes
=> Anxiety of a young woman fearing love might not materialize
* Poem 5:
- Sentimental character: A daring young woman pursuing love boldly
- Interesting use of imagery: River, bridge, sash, metaphorically transformed.
=> The heartfelt affection of the young woman towards the young man she loves.
* Poem 6:
- Theme: The deep and faithful love of a couple, enduring all hardships and sharing joys and sorrows => Nothing can separate them.
- Artistry: Utilizing the familiar imagery of ginger salt in folk poetry.
* Observations on the beauty of laborers:
- Having a clear understanding of one's own identity.
- Yearning for a beautiful love.
- Demonstrating unwavering loyalty to the beloved.
3. Conclusion
General conclusion drawn from folk songs, extending the discussion.
II. Sample Essay: The Beauty of Laborers Through Folk Songs and Bonds of Affection
Vietnam - a country with a long history and diverse cultural heritage accompanied by a colossal treasure trove of literature and art. We cannot overlook the endearing folk songs left by the people. Each folk song brings us unique feelings about life, about humanity. Particularly, the beauty of laborers portrayed through beloved folk verses, through verses of affection, is vividly depicted.
In a feudal regime filled with injustices, women have endured much misery. Therefore, from the depths of their souls, they raise their voices in lamentation for their fate:
'- My body is like a silk scarf
Fluttering in the market, who knows whose hands will touch?
- My body is like a prickly taro root
White inside, black outside.
Oh, taste and see!
Only by tasting will you know the sweet bitterness within me.'
The typical sentimental character in the two folk poems above is a woman. The address 'my body is like...' evokes a humble and vulnerable identity due to living in a society that values men over women. The imagery and metaphors familiar to life: 'My body is like a silk scarf' - silk symbolizes graceful and delicate beauty, yet it flutters in the market, uncertain whose hands it will end up in. 'Prickly taro root' - despite its ugly appearance, black and unsightly, inside it holds sweetness, much like a woman whose outward appearance may be judged, but deep within, she harbors unwavering affection, deserving of respect from others. Folk poems are the voices of women under the ancient feudal system. They have a deep awareness of their own value while also experiencing anxiety and insecurity about the future because of their dependent status and the rigid constraints of feudal etiquette.
Love - a very special emotion between people and an endless theme in poetry. Love brings joy but also sorrow if love exists but cannot be realized:
'- Climbing the persimmon tree for half a day,
Who would cause such heartache, oh persimmon!
The moon competing with the sun,
Stars tonight competing with tomorrow's stars.
Oh dear! Do you remember me?
I'm like a star waiting for the moon in the sky.
This is a folk poem about the love of two individuals facing numerous obstacles. The poem begins with an action of 'climbing a tree,' making the reader curious. 'Who' is an undefined subject here, but whether male or female, both share a common feeling of 'heartache.' When one finds their soulmate but cannot be together, there's inevitable pain, as time passes relentlessly, yet the couple cannot be together. A lamentation over the love of a couple that cannot be realized.
Folk poems about affection always deeply resonate with people because of the imagery closely tied to the lives of laborers:
'Who do I remember with this handkerchief,
Falling to the ground,
Who do I remember with this handkerchief,
Pressing against my shoulders.
Who do I remember with this handkerchief,
Drying tears.'
It's evident that the sentimental character in this folk poem is a young woman in love, expressing her feelings both indirectly and directly. Artistic techniques combined sequentially include rhetorical questions with the indefinite pronoun 'who'; indirect expressions through imagery of handkerchiefs, lamps, eyes. Asking about the handkerchief first because it's the item closest to the young woman, she asks the handkerchief as if questioning herself - a subtle, refined way of expressing inner thoughts. 'Who do I remember with this handkerchief' is reiterated three times, emphasizing the young woman's deep longing for her beloved. Not content with asking about the handkerchief, she transitions to other objects:
'The lamp remembers whom,
Yet the lamp never dims.
The eyes remember whom,
Yet the eyes sleep fitfully.'
Not satisfied with questioning the handkerchief, she inquires about the lamp, about the eyes. Through these consecutive questions, we can see the young woman restless throughout the night due to love and longing, a longing that stretches across space and time. She has chosen to express herself directly:
'Last night, I was troubled by worries,
Worried because of an unease on one side...'
The girl has directly expressed her worries, surrounded by anxieties, fearing that love might not come to fruition, afraid that the two may not unite. Truly, she is a girl with deep, intense, and earnest love.
In the following folk poem, the image of the girl emerges with strength in love:
'If only the river were wide enough,
The northern bridge would welcome you with a sash.'
Despite the strict social norms of feudal society, this girl still steadfastly pursues her true love. She has a remarkably bold mindset, wishing for a 'wide river' and then erecting a bridge with a sash. From deep within her soul, it's a resolute pursuit of happiness till the end.
Spousal love - an enduring bond always highly esteemed in human relationships:
'Salt remains salty for three years,
Ginger stays spicy for nine months,
Our bond, heavy with duty, thick with love,
Even if parted, it's thirty-six thousand days before we're truly apart.'
The enduring love between spouses is difficult to describe, yet folk wisdom uses two simple and familiar images from daily life: 'ginger and salt.' Living together isn't just about love, but also about responsibility. A beautiful folk poem about the deep, faithful bond between a married couple. They endure hardships, share joys and sorrows, and nothing can tear them apart.
Familiar folk poems are written in easy-to-remember verses, leaving a deep impression. Folk materials are used uniquely, resonating deeply with readers. Through these folk poems, we can clearly see the beauty in the souls of working people. They understand themselves, worry about their fate, and cherish their love even when it doesn't go as planned. Alongside that is the deep, faithful love between spouses. These beauties will be preserved over time.
The bitterness, sorrow, and love of common people in the old society are expressed sincerely and deeply through a cluster of folk poems about love and friendship. Folk art enhances the beauty of the working people's souls in these verses, adding a special charm to the treasure of Vietnamese literature.
